Details

4-5" x 15-18" wide. Pink Soapwort is a wonderful Old World wildflower that carpets the late spring garden with a multitude of bright pink flowers. A vigorous groundcover, Soapwort readily reseeds itself and naturalizes in the garden. A prompt shearing, as the flowers fade, keeps it tidy and prevents reseeding. A superior ground cover, Soapwort is a particularly good choice for cold, short season areas of the inter-mountain West. It grows readily in most any soil including clay. (seed propagated). Can tolerate occasional foot traffic

Planting Guides

Saponaria (Soapwort) - a large genus of wildflowers native to the Old World (Europe) and Asia with flowers in shades of pink and white.

Preferred growing conditions

Plant in most soil types including clay. Saponaria prefers to be planted in a full to partial sun location. In hot climates, afternoon shade is best.

Saponaria need regular watering to establish new transplants. But established plants are generally xeric (waterwise) and only need a good soaking every few weeks when conditions are dry. Rainfall is generally all they need in moister Eastern climates.

Mulch with common mulching materials except in moist climates where plants should remain unmulched.

Deadheading is recommended. Shear back the tops of the plants lightly to remove faded flowers and pinch the new grow to thicken up the plants. When using Saponaria. ocymoides as a large scale groundcover (lawn substitute), it can be deadheaded using a lawn mower set on high to keep the foliage looking tiding after blooming is done.

Fertilize lightly in the fall with a half and half blend of Yum Yum Mix and good quality compost.

Special comments

These are typically long lived perennials that don't need dividing.

Saponaria 'Max Frei' has a enormous thick roots that don't respond well to being divided or transplanted. Leave standing over the winter and cut back to just above the ground in early to mid-spring.

Saponaria ocymoides and cultivars are semi-evergreen and should be left standing over the winter months. Cut back any winter-killed branch tips in mid-spring leaving green stems and leaves.

View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.

Shipping

Plant Shipping: Buy now and we will ship your order at the ideal planting time for your region. Spring-Planted Perennial and Bulb orders will ship from February 27-June 30, warmest zones first.

Most plant and bulb orders arrive within 2-6 days, or less, of leaving our greenhouses in Colorado. This prompt delivery is provided without additional express charges.

Grass Plugs Will ship at planting time in spring, beginning in late February.

Wildflower Seed & Grass Seed Orders ship within 2-3 days.

Standard shipping costs are $4.99 and up, depending on the size of the order.

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Few truly useful garden plants are as tough or as undemanding as Saponaria ocymoides.

Plant a small seedling in reasonably well-drained soil (including cracks in concrete or stone walls), water it the first month or so, then forget it. It will be straggly and insubstantial at first, but in a couple of years it will be a lush mound as much as 90 cm across, completely covered in pink flowers for almost a month in late spring.

When the main flush of bloom is over, cut it back or do like me and wait until the seed heads have dried, at which point it's easy to just pull them out, leaving a core mound that will soon look fresh and neat the rest of the year.

If you do wait until the seed heads have matured, you'll have lots of volunteer seedlings, but they grow very slowly and are easy to pull out.

Perfectly well adapted to the wet winters and dry summers of the Pacific Northwest. Incredibly drought-tolerant. Does not spread by runners. Loves alkaline soils, but also does just fine in slightly acidic ones. There's also a white form, which is slightly less vigorous but blooms at roughly the same time and contrasts nicely with the pink form.

Wonderful front-of-border, edger and (yes) hanging basket plant. Think of it something like phlox subulata (moss pinks) on a small dose of steroids. Blooms a bit later -- into June, can take harsh conditions or richer, moister conditions. Just a sheet of color in bloom. You won't be disappointed if you try this plant.

When you order from us, we guarantee that you will receive the hardiest plants, bulbs or seeds available, packed with care and ready to thrive in your garden. If you have followed our detailed planting and care instructions and you do not experience success, we will honor our satisfaction guarantee for up to one full year from delivery.